I finally taught myself how to use the map overlay in Google Analytics. I find it fascinating, and the pale-green map of the world makes me want to wave at my screen like a kid on a Christmas home video, as though the people on the other side can see me. Hello Caribou, La Jolla. Calgary, St. Petersburg.
Kinky people are everywhere. Tonight I went to a bar to meet a bunch of geeks. I drank cider, ate pad thai, and listened to them chatter away about things I only understand half the time, and never in context. The acronyms thickened and collided in midair. I distracted a couple of them briefly in a chat about the lack of magical realist texts in North America.
Across the table from me, one of these anonymous geeks was wearing a Story-of-O ring. I didn’t get his name, don’t know where he’s from. I know he has ginger hair and a cartilage piercing placed high along the curve of his ear. I spent most of the night glancing from the ring to his face, and wondering why he was wearing it, and who gave it to him, or if he gave it to himself.
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My neighbor gave me my first Charles de Lint book when I was on bed rest during my first pregnancy. Ever since then I can’t get enough urban fantasy type books. I would love to know your favorites!
What does such a ring look like? I didn’t know we had a secret symbol!
Hi Patty,
Urban fantasy, hmm? I’ve never read any Charles de Lint, but I like the Fables comics for urban fantasy. Also Neal Stephenson for urban sci-fi, especially Snow Crash. And of course, Gaiman. But those are all pretty classic examples, and I haven’t read enough that I would specifically consider *urban* fantasy to be able to give any targeted recommendations beyond that.
Maja,
Apparently, according to Wikipedia, the Ring of O has been around for a while. I only know of it in reference to the book, but the ring itself is pretty popular. I don’t know that I trust Wikipedia’s description of how/why the ring is worn today, though, because honestly I cannot really get the symbol out of a M/f space in my head.
Your mention of north american magic realism made me think you might enjoy the collaborative storrybook at storybookcollaborative.wordpress.com
I look forward to exploring here. Thanks.
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